Elastic tire.



J. LAZARUSQ ELASTIC TIRE. APPLIOATIQN FILED 13110.12. 1910.

Patented Feb. 20, 1912.

JSEH LAZARUS, OIF BOSTON', MASSACHUSETTS.

ELASTEC TIRE.

.application area December ia, 19in.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, Josnrii Lemans, a citizen of the United States, residing;` at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of liflassachusetts, have invented neiv and useful improvements in Elastic Tires, of which the following-is a sj'iecilication.

This invention relates to. improvements in tires for vehicle Wheels, and the object is to provide an inexpensive yet durable elastic tiro Which shall be capable of a highly sensitive local elastic yielding,` similar -in its action to that of a pneumatic tire.

Another object is to provide a novel and practical means of attaching the tire tothe periphery of the Wheel.

Still another object isto provide a tire ywhich shall be non-skidding.

Tol these ends, my invention consists in the novel features of construct-ion and in the combination and arrangement of parts set forth in the following specification and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawing: Figure 1 is a central vertical section of a tire and Wheel embodying my invention. Fig. 2 isan enlarged detail side elevation of a portion of the tire and Wheel. Fig., 3 is a cross sectional View of a modified form of the tire. Fig. 4 is a plan section taken on line fl-4 of Fig. 3.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawing* ln the drawing, referringto Figs. 1 and 2, the numeral 5 designates generally an elastic tire having tivo resilient sides 6 connected to each other by a suitable connecu tion or connections 2' forming an annular troughdike structure fin which the periphery of a Wheel 8 is located. The tire is preferably a metallic structure and is pref erably composed of a. series of transverse substantially U-shaped springs 9. These springs' are preferably joined to each other adjacent to the tread bysnitable means to prevent relative displacement of said springs in a circumferential direction, such vmeans in the embodiment shown in Figsl and consistingof a plurality of Wires interlaced, intertwined or otherwise interloclrcd With the springs 9 in any suitable manner, While in the embodiment illustrated in Figa 3 and 4, l have shown a single Wire associated with and locked to the transverse springs. InJ the embodiment shown in Figs. l 'and 2, there are shown two pairs of Wires, the Wires .Specification of Letters Patent.

i Patented Feb. 20, 1312i. semi No. 596,770.

of each pair being` designated by the iiu of each pan:

morals 10 and 1l and the Wires being twisted about each other and about the springs, in the manner shown :,.in Fig. 2. vrlhe springs 5) may be and preferably are bent to forni corrugations, as shown in Fig. 1, these corrugations serving to prevent the tire from slippingicr skidding sidewise and insuringa good gripping action upon the pavement so as to prevent circumferential slipping` of the-Wheel as Well. The upper extremities of the springs 9 are joined to each other at each side by suitable means, preferably consisting of two circumferential side members 12, 12 each of which is formed in two parts forming therebetween anannular chamber 13 formed by providing each of the two parts with, an` annular groove. Each of the springs 9 is provided Wit-h a laterally bent end'portio'n 14 located in one of the annular' chambers 13, While the adjacent body portion of the spring extends throngh a perforation' 15 formed partly in each of the two parts of the ring l2, as shown in Fig. Q. The tvvo parts of 4each ring l2 are secured to each other by suitable meansv such, for example, as screws 16. The connections '7 preferably consist of a Series of chains -having terminal hooks 17 hooked onto the rings 12, these hooks being preferably of the s1iap'va.rety having springs vllfor preventing accidental escape of the rings from the hooks. Preferably, the Wheel 8 is provided with a felly 19 which swells out or widens toward its periphery, assliown in Fig. 1, in such a manner that the tire engages the felly at its narrower `portion and is thus. prevented from, becoming accidentally disengaged therefrom. lt Will be evident that when the Weight of the vehicle rests upon the tire at given point in its circumference as, for example, as shown at the lower part of Fig. 1, the sides of the tire will ted'to draw inwardly toward each other and at the same time will have a tendency to "play up and down to a slight degree upon the folly, yet at vthe same time engaging the' same 'with quite a considerable lirmness. This grip ping action may, in some cases, be suliicient to prevent the tire from creepingeor slipping circumferentially on the wheel but where vthe vehicle is a motor driven vehicle, l prefer to attach the tire tothe wheel in some positive manner as, for example, by providing the felly 19 with a series of transverse grooves 20 in which the chains 7 are respectively located and further by securing said chains to said felly by means of screws 21.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4, wherein I have shown a inodilied form of my invention, this form is similar to that hereinbetore described with the exception that the tread of the tire is fla-t, as illustrated in Fig. 3, and I employ a somewhat different mode of joining the springs to cath other to prevent their relative displacement in a circumferential direction. In this form of my invention, there are provided a series ot substantially U-shaped springs 22 connected to each other by transverse connections 23 similar to the connections 7. An annular member 24 located preferably within the tire is provided with a series of pertorations Q5 in which are located, respectively, loops .26 formed upon the springs 22 and through these loops an annular wire 27 extends thus serving to lock the springs 22v to the member 24 and hold them in their proper spaced relation with each other. In this form ot' my invention also, the springs Q2 may be bent to formcorrugations, as shown in Fig. 3, for t-he purpose of preventing said slipping of the tire.

In the operation ot' both forms of my invention, the tire has a highly sensitive resilient action and is-eapable el local yielding in a manner much similar to that of a pneumatic tire, since a single transverse spring, or a small group of transverse springs, when subjected to pressure at the tread portion, will yield upwardly and flatten at the tread portion and bow outwardly at the sides.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire by Letters Patent to secure is:

l. The combination with a wheel', of an' -elastic tire having two resilient sides connected to each other by chains forming an annular trough-like structure in which the periphery of said wheel is located.

2. The combination with a wheel, ot an elastic tire having two resilient sides connected to each other by flexible non-elastic means forming an annular trrmgh-like structure in which the periphery ol said wheel is located.

3. The combination lwith a wheel, of an elastic tire comprising a series of transverse substantially U-shaped springs having outwardly-bowed arcuate sides, a pair of circumferential side members secured to opposite sides, respectively, of said springs, and ilexible non-elastic means connecting said sides to each other and forming therewith an annular trough-like structure in which the periphery of said wheel is located.

4. Thecombination with a wheel, of an elastic tirecomprising a series of transverse substantially U-shapedsprings having ontwardly bowed arcuate sides, means joining said springs to each other adjacent to the tread to prevent relative displacement of said springs in a circumferential direction, and flexible non-elastic means connecting the sides ot said springs to each other and forming therewith a circumferential trough-like structure in which the periphery ol said wheel is located.

The combination with a wheel, of an elastic tire comprising a series of transverse substantially U-shaped springs, a pair of circumferential side members provided respectively with circumferential grooves in which the ends of said springs terminate and are secured, and means connecting the sides of said springs to each other and forming therewith a circumferential trough-like structure in which the periphery of said wheel is located.

6. rIlle combination withV a wheel, of an elastic tire comprising a series of transverse substantially U-shaped springs, a pair of circumferential side members each in two parts forming therelietween au annular chan'iber, the opposite ends of Said springs being located in said chan'ibers, respectively, and means connecting the sides of said springs to each other and forming therewith a cirenmterential trough-like structure in which the periphery ot' said wheel is located.

7. The combination with a wheel, of an elastic tire comprising a series of transverse substantially U-shaped springs, a circumterential member provided with a series of perforations, said springs heilig respectively provided with loops extending through said pertorations, respectively, means extending through said loop to lock the same to said circumferential member, and means connecting the sides ot said springs to each other and forming therewith a circuinferential trough-like structure in which the periphery of said wheel is located.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH LAZARUS. Vitnesses Louis A. Jones, Sanne V. MCCARTHY. 

